Configurable Chair

ABSTRACT

A configurable chair comprises an end piece, an interior frame with feet, connected to a side of the first end piece, and a plurality of rail elements, connected to a side of the interior frame with feet element and stretching horizontally from the interior frame with feet element. The configurable chair further comprises a first chair section placed around the plurality of rail elements and placed next to the interior frame with feet element, an interior frame element, placed next to the first chair section and around the plurality of rail elements, and a second first chair section placed around the plurality of rail elements and placed next to the interior frame element. The configurable chair may comprise a second interior frame element with feet, slid over the plurality elements and placed next to a side of the second chair section and a second end piece.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a methods and systems for providing a chair with a reconfigurable width and/or length.

2. Information/Background of the Invention

Conventional chairs are made with specific dimensions in order to allow for easy manufacture in overseas location. The result is a chair having seating room for a specific number of users or a chair of a specific width and dimension. This leaves interior designers, house owners, studio designers, or exhibit designers with little flexibility in meeting different needs of clients and/or customers.

Accordingly, a need exists for a chair design having the flexibility to meet the varying needs of different clients.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive aspects are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 illustrates a line drawing of a configurable chair according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded version of a line drawing of a configurable chair according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 3 illustrate a process of making the chair according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subject matter. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, systems and/or configurations are set forth, for example. However, it should be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art having benefit of this disclosure that claimed subject matter may be practiced without specific details. In other instances, well-known features may be omitted and/or simplified so as not to obscure claimed subject matter. While certain features have been illustrated and/or described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and/or equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that appended claims are intended to cover any and all modifications and/or changes as fall within claimed subject matter.

Reference is now made in detail to the description of non-limiting embodiments as illustrated in the drawings. While the embodiments described may use specific materials or configurations, there is no intent to limit the subject matter to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. Accordingly, various modifications to the embodiments presented may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles described herein can be applied to other non-limiting embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed subject matter. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present apparatus, system and method as set forth in the claims

The invention disclosed herein is directed to a furniture assembly. In the following description, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present invention. In other instance, well-known components are not described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

References throughout this specification to one implementation, an implementation, one embodiment, an embodiment and/or the like means that a particular feature, structure, and/or characteristic described in connection with a particular implementation and/or embodiment is included in at least one implementation and/or embodiment of claimed subject matter. Thus, appearances of such phrases, for example, in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily intended to refer to the same implementation or to any one particular implementation described. Furthermore, it is to be understood that particular features, structures, and/or characteristics described are capable of being combined in various ways in one or more implementations and, therefore, are within intended claim scope, for example. In general, of course, these and other issues vary with context. Therefore, particular context of description and/or usage provides helpful guidance regarding inferences to be drawn.

References throughout this specification to one implementation, an implementation, one embodiment, an embodiment and/or the like means that a particular feature, structure, and/or characteristic described in connection with a particular implementation and/or embodiment is included in at least one implementation and/or embodiment of claimed subject matter. Thus, appearances of such phrases, for example, in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily intended to refer to the same implementation or to any one particular implementation described. Furthermore, it is to be understood that particular features, structures, and/or characteristics described are capable of being combined in various ways in one or more implementations and, therefore, are within intended claim scope, for example. In general, of course, these and other issues vary with context. Therefore, particular context of description and/or usage provides helpful guidance regarding inferences to be drawn.

Likewise, in this context, the terms “coupled”, “connected,” and/or similar terms are used generically. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms. Rather, “connected” is used generically to indicate that two or more components, for example, are in direct physical, including electrical, contact; while, “coupled” is used generically to mean that two or more components are potentially in direct physical, including electrical, contact; however, “coupled” is also used generically to also mean that two or more components are not necessarily in direct contact, but nonetheless are able to co-operate and/or interact. The term coupled is also understood generically to mean indirectly connected, for example, in an appropriate context.

The terms, “and”, “or”, “and/or” and/or similar terms, as used herein, include a variety of meanings that also are expected to depend at least in part upon the particular context in which such terms are used. Typically, “or” if used to associate a list, such as A, B or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive sense, as well as A, B or C, here used in the exclusive sense. In addition, the term “one or more” and/or similar terms is used to describe any feature, structure, and/or characteristic in the singular and/or is also used to describe a plurality and/or some other combination of features, structures and/or characteristics. Likewise, the term “based on” and/or similar terms are understood as not necessarily intending to convey an exclusive set of factors, but to allow for existence of additional factors not necessarily expressly described. Of course, for all of the foregoing, particular context of description and/or usage provides helpful guidance regarding inferences to be drawn. It should be noted that the following description merely provides one or more illustrative examples and claimed subject matter is not limited to these one or more illustrative examples; however, again, particular context of description and/or usage provides helpful guidance regarding inferences to be drawn.

FIG. 1 illustrates a configurable chair according to an embodiment. In an illustrated embodiment, configurable chair 110 may comprise five chair sections 112 114 116 118 120. In other embodiments, configurable chair 110 may comprise between two to fifteen chair sections depending upon a desired width 125 of a configurable chair 110. In an embodiment, a desired width 125 may be configurable based on needs of consumers, event planners or interior designers and how large of a furniture piece is needed in a space that is being utilized. In an embodiment, a configurable chair 110 may also include end pieces 130 and 135. In an embodiment, a configurable chair 110 may comprise a plurality of legs. In an illustrated example embodiment of FIG. 1, a configurable chair 110 may comprise two legs (or leg pieces) 140 and 145. In other embodiments, a configurable chair 110 may have between three to six leg pieces.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded version of a configurable chair 200 according to an embodiment. In an embodiment, a configurable chair 200 may include a plurality of chair sections 202 204 206 208 210, end pieces 215 and 220, interior frame elements with feet 225 230, end piece fasteners 235, one or more frame elements 240, a plurality of rail elements 250, 255 and 260, and one or more frame fasteners 245.

In an illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, the configurable chair 200 may have five chair sections 202 204 206 208 210. In other embodiments, the configurable chair 200 may include a plurality of chair sections, e.g., ranging from two to fifteen chair sections.

In an embodiment, a plurality of rail elements 255 260 265 may be attached by fasteners 245 to an interior frame element with feet 225. In an embodiment, fasteners 245 may be screws, tape, nuts and bolt combinations, or other similar fastening mechanisms. In an embodiment, a plurality of rail elements 255 260 265 may be attached to an interior frame element with feet 225 via an adhesive and/or an epoxy. In an embodiment, fasteners 245 may be attached at an outside surface of the interior frame with feet 225, for example, as is illustrated in FIG. 2. A structure and strength of a configurable chair 200 may be comprised of a plurality of rail elements 255 260 and 265, a plurality of interior frames with feet 225 and 230, and a plurality of interior frame elements 240. These elements may form a frame of a configurable chair. In an embodiment, a length of rail elements 255 260 and 265 may be configurable depending upon a need of a consumer, interior designer or space planner. For example, a plurality rail elements 255 260 265 may be one feet in length, two feet in length, four feet in length, or up to twelve feet in length.

In an embodiment, one of end sections 215 may be fastened to an interior frame element with feet 225. In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, four fasteners 235 may be utilized to connect an end section 215 to an interior frame element with feet 225. In other embodiments, a different number of fasteners 235 may be utilized. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, an interior frame element with feet 225 may include four connection points as receptacles or receiving elements for one or more fasteners 235.

In an embodiment, a chair section 202 may be slid on the plurality of rail elements 255 260 265 and may rest against a surface of an interior frame element with feet 225. In an embodiment, interior chair sections 202 may have spaces opposing the rail elements to allow the interior chair sections to be mounted on or slid onto a chair structure frame formed by an interior frame element with feet 225 and a plurality of rail elements 255 260 265. In an embodiment, an interior frame element 240 may be slid onto a chair structure frame and be pressed against an opposite side of chair section 202 that may attached to interior frame element with feet 225. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a left side of chair section 202 is next to an interior frame element with feet 225 and a right side of chair section 202 is next to interior frame element 240.

In an embodiment, an additional chair section 204 may be slid on the plurality of rail elements 255 260 265 and be placed next to an interior frame element 240. The additional chair section 204 may be the same width as chair section 202 or may have a different width depending on the overall configuration of the configurable chair. An additional interior frame element (not shown) is then slid on a plurality of rail elements 255 260 265 next to the additional chair section 204. This process of adding a chair section (e.g., 206 208 210) may be continued until a desired width or size of the chair is reached. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, five chair sections are utilized (e.g., chair sections 202 204 206 208 210) and four interior frame elements 240 are utilized.

In an embodiment, once a configurable chair 200 has reached a desired width, a second interior frame element with feet 230 may be fastened to the plurality of rail elements 255 260 265 on an opposite or distal end of a configurable chair. In an embodiment, fasteners (not shown) may be utilized to connect the second interior frame element with feet 230 to a plurality of rail elements 255 260 265. In an embodiment, three fasteners may be utilized to connect or fasten the second interior frame element with feet 230 to an opposite or distal end of the plurality of rail elements 255 260 265. In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, with regard to an interior frame element with feet 225 on a left side of the chair, the plurality of rail elements 255 260 265 may not extend past the second interior frame element with feet 230. In an embodiment, a second end piece 220 may be connected to a second interior frame element with feet 230 with fasteners. In an embodiment, four fasteners may connect or fasten to a second end piece 220 to a second interior frame element with feet 230.

FIG. 3 illustrate a process of making a chair according to an embodiment. In an embodiment, in step 305, an interior frame with feet may be attached to rail elements on one end. In an embodiment, in step 310, an end piece may be connected to a surface of an interior frame with feet. In an embodiment, in step 315, a chair section may be slid or placed onto a plurality of rail elements and placed next to an interior frame with feet.

In an embodiment, in step 320, an interior frame element may be slid or placed onto a plurality of rail elements and placed next to a chair section. In an embodiment, in step 325, it may be determined whether a construction of a configurable chair is complete, or if additional chair sections may need to be added to increase a width of a configurable chair. If a configurable chair is not complete, i.e., it is determined not to be the correct size and/or width desired by an event planner, space designer or furniture designer, then a process described herein returns to step 315 where a chair section is slid or placed onto a plurality of rail elements. In an embodiment, if a configurable chair may be determined to be at a correct size or width, then at step 330, a second interior frame with feet may be connected to a last chair section and a second end piece may be connected to a second interior frame with feet.

In an embodiment, end pieces 215 and 220 may be comprised of a wood material, a plastic material, or a combination thereof. A wood structure may be covered by foam and/or may also be upholstered with fabric. In an embodiment, a plurality of end pieces 215 220 may be connected to respective interior frame elements with feet 225 230 before covering end pieces 215 220 with foam and/or upholstering end pieces 215 220 with fabric.

In an embodiment, interior frame with feet 225 230 may be comprised with a metal material, a plastic material, a composite material, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, metal may provide strength to support a plurality of chair sections 202 204 206 208 210, a plurality of interior frame elements 240 and a plurality of rail elements 255 260 265, and provide a basis for a frame and/or strength of a configurable chair. In an embodiment, the metal may be aluminum, stainless steel, iron or other metal.

In an embodiment, a plurality of interior frames 240 may be comprised of a plastic material. In another embodiment, the plurality of frames may be made of another material (e.g., wood or another metal), or a combination of wood, metal, composite or plastic material. In an embodiment, a plurality of interior frames may be utilized to provide spacing between a plurality of chair sections.

In an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of rail elements 255 260 265 may be comprised of a metal, plastic, or composite material, or any combination thereof. In an illustrative embodiment, a plurality of rail elements 255 260 265 may be comprised of steel. A sturdy metal may be required as a material to provide support for a configurable chair and specifically chair sections of a configurable chair.

In an embodiment, a plurality of chair sections may be comprised of a wood material. In an embodiment, a plurality of chair sections 202 204 206 208 210 may be covered with foam and/or upholstered with fabric.

What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all terms are meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

While certain exemplary techniques have been described and shown herein using various methods and systems, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various other modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from claimed subject matter. Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of claimed subject matter without departing from the central concept described herein. Therefore, it is intended that claimed subject matter not be limited to the particular examples disclosed, but that such claimed subject matter may also include all implementations falling within the scope of the appended claims, and equivalents thereof. 

1. A method of making a configurable chair, comprising: connecting an interior frame with feet element to a first end of a plurality of rail elements; connecting an end piece to the interior frame with feet element; and sliding a plurality of chair seating sections and interior frame elements onto the plurality of rail elements, where the at least one chair section rests next to the interior frame with feet element on a first side and the interior frame element on a second side and wherein the plurality of rail elements extend horizontally through openings in the plurality of chair seating sections and interior frame elements.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: connecting a second frame with feet element to a last one of the plurality of chair seating sections.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: connecting a second end piece to the second frame with feet element.
 4. A configurable chair, comprising: a first end piece; an interior frame with feet element, connected via a fastener and/or adhesive, to a side of the first end piece; a plurality of rail elements, connected to a side of the interior frame with feet element and stretching horizontally from the interior frame with feet element; a first chair section placed around the plurality of rail elements and placed next to the interior frame with feet element; an interior frame element, placed next to the first chair section and around the plurality of rail elements; and a second chair section placed around the plurality of rail elements and placed next to the interior frame element, wherein the plurality of rail elements pass through the first chair section, the interior frame element and the second chair section.
 5. The configurable chair of claim 4, further comprising, one or more interior frame elements, the one or more interior frame elements placed next to one or more chair sections and around the plurality of rail elements.
 6. The configurable chair of claim 4, further comprising a second interior frame element with feet, slid over the plurality elements and placed next to a side of the second chair section.
 7. The configurable chair of claim 6, further comprising a second end piece, the second end piece connected to the second interior frame element with feet.
 8. The configurable chair of claim 4, wherein the first chair section and the second chair section are comprised of a wood material
 9. The configurable chair of claim 8, wherein the first chair section and the second chair section may be covered by foam and/or may also be upholstered with fabric.
 10. The configurable chair of claim 4, wherein the plurality of rail elements are comprised of a metal material
 11. The configurable chair of claim 4, wherein the interior frame with feet element and the interior frame element are comprised of a plastic material.
 12. The configurable chair of claim 4, wherein the end piece is comprised of a wood material, may be covered by foam, or may also be upholstered with fabric.
 13. A configurable chair, comprising: a first end piece; an interior frame with feet element, connected to a side of the first end piece; a plurality of rail elements, connected to a side of the interior frame with feet element and stretching horizontally from the interior frame with feet element; a first chair section placed next to the interior frame with feet element and having a plurality of openings through which the plurality of rail elements are placed; an interior frame element, placed next to the first chair section and having a plurality of openings through which the plurality of rail elements are placed; and a second chair section placed next to the interior frame element and having a plurality of openings through which the plurality of rail elements are placed.
 14. The configurable chair of claim 13, further comprising, one or more interior frame elements, the one or more interior frame elements placed next to one or more chair sections and having a plurality of openings through which the plurality of rail elements are placed.
 15. The configurable chair of claim 13, further comprising a second interior frame element with feet, slid over the plurality of rail elements and placed next to a side of the second chair section.
 16. The configurable chair of claim 15, further comprising a second end piece, the second end piece connected to the second interior frame element with feet. 